Conduit supporting device



Oct.31, 1944. HANNEYER 2,361,732

CONDUIT SUPPORTING DEV ICE Filed Aug. 27, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 31,1944. BANNEYER 2,361,732

CONDUIT SUPPQRTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 27, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 31, 1944 u iTEo STATES PAT EiN'l 'orr 'cc 6 Claims.

This invention relates to conduit. supporting devices, and more particularly to devices for separately supporting. a plurality ofcon'duitsin varied and superimposed relation.

An object of the invention is to prov-idea simple structure which may be readily assembled to engage and support a plurality of conduits.

Another object is to provide a structure for supporting a conduit and for firmly locking. the same in thesupported" position Another object is to provide in-conduit supportingdevices, means for engaging conduits .to support the same and means for locking the conduits inaposi tion to prevent lateral'movement thereof Yet another object is to provide'conduit supporting devices having a relatively smallnumber of parts, the parts being of such a characterthat'by the use of an additional number of identical. parts, additional conduits may be supported.

Another object of the invention istojprovide in conduit supportin devices, means'forlongitudinally adjusting the supporting'members with respect toeach other and forlockin'g the'memhers in any of a plurality of predetermined" positions. Still another object is to provide conduitsupporting devices which themselves may be carried orsupported in any of a variety of ways. A further object is to provide single means for securing to each other, a pair of adjacent conduit supporting members, said means also servingto secure'to one of the'membersa clamp for engaginga conduit and beingseparately re"- leasable as to-the' clamp andthe members. A" further object is to provide equipment for'supporting three or more conduits ina desired superimposed relation.

Other features and advantages" will appear from the following specification and drawings; in which-- Fig. l is a perspective view of a device em b'odying the invention; Fig. 2' is a perspective View of one of the members for engaging the conduit; Fig. 3 is a transverse-sectional-view taken along theline 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 415 a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 1 offFigrl; Fig. is a perspective view'of another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the members of tiradevice shown in=Fig. 5; Fig.5 7 is. a transversesectional view showing .a" conduit. supported by the! device; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional taken along the line B -fl of. Figs 5; and: Fig. 9 is a view partl-yin section andpartlyiifn elevation showing a modified. for-m; oilthe' embodiment of the invention shownimFligs, .5 t'o' -8;

In the embodiment v of the invention shown" in Figs 1.. to 4, a plurality of conduit engaging members. I H. and. t2 are supported in adjacentiand interlockingrelation; A bracket l 3 ofi any-suitable or conventional. type: may be se cured to-the member Hi and" is adapted to be attached to'any'suitable surface to support the unit.

As-seen particularly'in Fig. 2', the conduit en gaging member lil mayinclude a flat body 14' provided'with teethor serrations l5 and I i ex tending" longitudinally thereoii The body is equipped with-a pair of spacedapertures I and I8; Aportion l9 adiacent the' aperture IE is thickened: to providea wall ottheaperturewhich is of substantiallyincreased length.- The thickened portion is also provides a ishoulder m which is utilized in securing the: member IIl in" interlockingrelation withuthe member lmas willfhere after bedescribedn 1 As seen in.:F;igs-.l and-"2, the members will and: [2 are eachequipped with a airvor ribs-2t and. 22 extending longitudinally thereon-along the side portions of. the same; Preferablm the ribsare providedzwith .arcuate surfaces 23 an2 forengagingzztnerarcuate wall oi'zaiconduitzi The ribs" 2 I and: 22xare continued on the: other side of' the member HI "to form projecting. channel members 25. and 26: The. channehmembersxifi 25 and 26 provide a channel forengaging therside wallsof'theadjacent member Hi A clamp member 2 71s adapted-to cooperate with the membenll .toisupportmconduitn; The clamp-1i may'consist of a- U' shapjed member having. an arcuate portionrfornengaigingthe wall of the"conduit'anddorextending;abcnt 'the-same; lp tionsizg-81ld-:32rWhiQh rormrthelegs of the U-shaped membenarereceived:within the apertures-l1 andl 8 in the-member l l td-complete the enclosure of the conduit 28. Asshowmu-the clamp member 21 may-Tbei-intheform-orazrodor tube.

Asseen particularly in Fig; 4; the extending portion 29. of the clamp :member 21: isexternally threaded at 3|" and. receives a nut 30: which-is disposed. on the. opposite side-or. the member H and. tightens the clamp'position withrespect to the member. At the samettime, the tightening,

ofthe nut 30 onthe-extending-portion 29 oithe and interlocking. engagement withthemember [21 Inthis relation,v the serrated portion 33." of the member l2 engages the serrated portion. IB' of the member IT, and tlie-shoulder 211 of the member I2 is received'within a-recess-ifof'the member .H and engages the wall thereof.

The nut 30' may be equipped" with a' :collar"35 fonre'ceiving'the endiport'ion 36 ofthe' clamp 31 abouttne" conduit 38'; Th'iscollar; which receives the endiportion oft'hecla'mp 3-13. prevents lateral or' longitudinalmovement? of the clamp withresp'ectto the member I2.

As seen particularly in- Figs'. 1' and i; eachof the-members t0} fI- and l 2 is-equipped-wi tli a V shaped' portion 39 extending from the surface clampil brings the member H-into overlapping thereof, the portion 39 of the member being adapted to engage the extending portion 29 of the clamp 21. The wall of the portion 39 engages the clamp 27 throughout a substantial longitudinal portionthereof and thus, with. the" thick portion IS on the other surface of the member I2, provides means for preventing lateral pivotal movement of the clamp 21 about the point of junction thereof with the member l2, in a plane transverse to the axis of the conduit 28.

The central longitudinal portion of the body M of the member may be recessed to receive a longitudinally-projecting portion of the adjacent member and thus provide an. interlock against lateral movement of the members with respect to each other. This construction is seen particularly in Fig. 3 wherein the projection IQ of the member I2 is received within the body of the member The V-shaped portion 39 of each member engages a substantial longitudinal section of the clamp which passes therethrough. The member adjacent the V-shaped portion 39 is built up as at 89 to provide a thickened portion for engaging the opposite side of the clamp.

Adjacent theaperture H at the lower end-of the member H is a recess providing a wall 90 for engaging the abutting end 20 of the thickened portion of an adjacent member. This. en gagement aids in establishing an interlocking relation between the members which prevent longitudinal movement of the members with respect to each other.

In assembling the device shown in Figs. 1 to 4, any suitable number of conduit engaging members may be used. With each conduit engaging member, there will, of course, be associated a clamp for engaging the opposite side of the conduit and forsupporting the same between the I clamp and the member. I

The members H), II. and I2 may be placed in overlapping relation, as seen in Fig. 1, with each of the members engaging the opposite surface of an adjacentmember. Themembers, of course, may be identical in construction. The members are placed in position with respect to thecon duits which areto be supported, and the clamps.

2'1 and 31 are placed about the conduits 28 and 33, one clamp being used for each conduit engaging member. I

As seen particularly in Fig. 4, when the members are arranged in overlapping relation, the serrated surface 33 of the member |2 engages in interlocking relation the serrated surface |6of the member and the shoulder 20 of the member engages the wall of the recess 34 of the member l2. The tightening of the nut 39 tight ens the clamp 21 about the conduit 28, and also serves to secure the members II and |2 in interlocking relation with each other. The extending portion 32 at the opposite end of the clamp 21 is received within the collar 49 of the nut 4| and is thus locked against lateral or longitudinal movement with respect to the adjacent members.

The device may be quickly assembled to support a plurality of conduits in desired position and single means is used for securing the members in interlocking relation and for at the same time attaching the clamps to the members. The clamps are locked against lateral pivotal movement about the point of junction thereof with the members in a plane transverse to the axis of the conduits. This feature is of great importance since the greatest strain on the clamp members is in this direction.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. to 9, a plurality of identical members 4|, 42 and 43 are arranged in overlapping and interlocking relation. One of the members 4| may be secured to a bracket 44 to mount the as 'sembly. The bracket 44 may be of any suitable or conventional construction and may be provided with a plate 45 adapted to be secured to a suitable wall or. mounting surface. A turnbuckle 46 permits longitudinal adjustment of the bracket 44. A serrated surface 41 of the bracket 44 may be brought into interlocking relation with the serrated surface 48 of the member 4|, and a bolt 49 may be used to fix the member and bracket in interlocking relation.

the inner sides thereof.

The member 4|, as seen particularly in Fig. 6, may include a body portion 59, which is offset at 5| to provide a beveled surface 52. The member is equipped with a pair of spaced apertures 53 and 54, the aperture 54 being elongated and being provided with spaced projections 55 along The member 42 may be equipped with teeth or serrations 55 56, 51 and 58, which are adapted to be used in bringing the member into interlocking relation with an adjacent identical member. As seen in Figs. 5 and 6, an arcuate surface 59 on each of the members 4|, 42 and 43 is adapted to engage the arcuate Wall of a conduit. Preferably, the arcuate surface 59 is formed in a pair of spaced ribs 69 and 6| which extend along the sides of the member.

Clamp members 62 and 63 are adapted to be used in cooperation with the members 4| and 43, each of the clamp members being adapted to engage the opposite side of a conduit to support the conduit against the arcuate surface 59 of the adjacent member. The clamp members may be of any suitable construction, but should be provided with an arcuate portion which extends around the wall of the conduit in engagement thereof. Thus, the clamp 62 is equipped with an arcuate portion 64 and with a base 65. The base 65 is apertured to receive a bolt 6'! extending through the member 4| to secure the clamp 62 in position on the member 4|. The clamps 63 and 18 are similarly constructed.

, As seen particularly in Fig. 8, the base 65 of the clamp 62 is equipped with a recess 69 within which may be received a nut 66 on the bolt 61. The bolt 61 passes through the elongated aperture 54 of the member 42. The bolt 6'! is preferably of the carriage bolt type and is equipped with angular surfaces H for engaging the projections 55 of the recess 54 and thus preventing longitudinal movement and rotation of the bolt 61 within the elongated slot 54. The bolt also extends through the aperture 68 of the member 4| and receives the nut 66 to lock the members 4| and 42 in interlocking relation with respect to each other. The recess 69 in-the base .65 of the clamp 62 receives the nut 66, and the aperture 12 in the base permits the bolt 61 to extend therethrough. .A second nut 13 threadedly engages the end of the bolt 61 to lock the clamp 62 in position on the member 4|.

When the members 4|, 42 and 43 are brought together, the serrated portions are brought into interlocking engagement to preventlongitudinal movement of the members with respect to each other. As seen in Fig. 6, the central longitudinal portion of the member 42 at one end is recessed at 9| and at theother end is raised at.92 to pro-.

vide longitudinal interlocking sections. These sections lock the members when the" members are brought together against'lat'eral movement with respect toeach other. 1 A

- With this construction, the single boltliTpassing through the members 44 42 and -SZ serves to secure the unit in assembledrelati-on. At the same time, by the use of the separate nuts 66 and 13 to secure the member 41 andclamp'62 respec tiv'el'y in position, it'is possible "tosep'ar tely'release the clamp 62 and member 4l." I

The central beveled portion of the member 41 may be provided with a shoulder14 for engaging the end 15 ofthe mem'ber '42. Thus, the members arefi'xed in longitudinal position by the interlocking of the serrated surfaces thereof and also by engagement of the end 15 with the shoulder 14.

By ofisetting the body 50 of the member 4| and of the other identical members, it is possible, as shown, to obtain a unit which extends in substantially the same plane.

When the device is to be assembled, the members 4| and 42 may be secured to each other by passing the bolt 6! through the slotted aperture 54 in the member 42 and the aperture 68 in the member 4|. The nut 66, which threadedly engages the bolt 61, then locks the members in overlapping relation. The members may be adjusted longitudinally with respect to each other by placing the bolt 6'! in the desired position within the slot 54. Any suitable number of additional identical members may be secured to the members 4| and 42, the assembly being of the type shown in Figs. 5 to 8. Since the additional members and clamps are substantially identical in construction, only one of the memhers is described in detail herein.

The members 42 are thus brought into interlocking relation and the nut 66 is tightened on the bolt 81. The interlocked members are placed in position adjacent the conduits which are to be supported, and the clamps 62 and 18 are placed about the conduits I6 and 11. The housings of the clamps are received about the nuts which hold the members in interlocking relation. The nut 13 is then brought into threaded engagement with the bolt 61 to lock the clamp- 62 in position in engagement with the conduit 16. A similar operation is carried out as to any additional clamps and conduits.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 9, the construction corresponds to that shown in Figs. 5 to 8, except that all of the conduits are disposed on one side of the supporting members. Thus, the members 88 and 8| are joined by a link member 82, which itself does not support a conduit but merely serves to support the members 88 and 8| in adjacent relation with respect to each other. The clamp member 83 may be of the same construction as in the embodiment of the invention described in Figs. 5 to 8, and the assembly of the device may also correspond to this construction. The member 82 is ofiset at the center portion thereof to provide a beveled surface 84 and to bring the portion 85 of the member 8| into alignment with the portion 86 of the member 80. In this manner, the entire unit consisting of any desired number of members may be disposed in substantially the same plane, and the conduits 81, 88 and any additional conduits may be supported by the unit, with each of the conduits lying on the same side of the unit.

Alth'oughLth'e' invention. has. been :described iniconnectibn with particular embodiments',-. such descriptioniis for the purpose. of illustration only and it willbe understood. thatphanges and modifications may bewreadily made without de parting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

llclaimr i 1'. A-device for supporting conduitsand the like, comprising a conduit-engaging member, means en'gaging'the upper'portion of said member for supporting -the same, said member depending from said supporting means,- a second conduitengaging member identical with said first-men- .tioned conduit-engaging member but faced in the opposite direction so that the back. sides of the.- members: are. adjacent, said last-mentioned conduit member having its top portion overlap ping the bottom portion of said first-mentioned member, a cable clamping member, and means for securing a cable between said clamping member and one of said conduit-engaging members and at the same time binding the overlapping portions of said conduit-engaging members together.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cable-securing means includes an arcuate member for engagement with a cable and an end portion which is threaded and extends through said overlapping portions, said securing means including also tapped means in engagement with said end portion for tightening said clamping member against said conduit-engaging members.

3. A device for supporting conduits and the like, comprising a conduit-engaging member equipped with vertical ribs at the sides thereof which ribs have arcuate front edges adapted to engage a cable, means engaging the upper portion of said member for supporting the same, said member depending from said supporting means, asecond conduit-engaging member identical with said first-mentioned conduit-engaging member.

but faced in the opposite direction so that the back sides of the members are adjacent, said last-mentioned conduit member having its top portion overlapping the bottom portion of said first-mentioned member, said ribs on the sides of said first-mentioned member extending also to the rear of the member and engaging the sides of the upper overlapping portion of said secondmentioned conduit-engaging member to secure the same against lateral movement, a clamping member, and means for securing a cable between said clamping member and one of said conduitengaging members and at the same time binding the overlapping portions of said conduit-engaging members together.

4. A device for supporting conduits and the like, comprising a conduit-engaging member having its back side serrated at the top and bottom portions, means engaging the serrated top portion of said member for supporting the same, said member depending in substantial vertical position'from said means, a second conduit-engaging member identical with said first-mentioned member and having its top serrated portion'engaging the bottom serrated portion of said first-mentioned conduit-engaging member, a clamping member having its one end extending through the engaged serrated portions ofsaid conduit-engaging members, thread means for tightening said end against the conduit-engaging members to bind the clamping member to a cable and to bind the engaged portions together, a second clamping member. and means for tightside of each adjacent member, each of said members having an end portion overlapping with an v end portion of an adjacent link, and means for binding a cable to one of'said members while at the same time binding said one member to an adjacent member.

6. A device as in claim 5 wherein said means includes a clamping member adapted to engage a side of a. conduit and has a threaded end portion extending through the overlapping portions of said members and includes also a hollow tapped member in threaded engagement with said end portion, and which comprises also a clamping member identical with said first-mentioned clamping member adapted to engage the side of a second conduit and has its one end extended within said hollow member, and threaded means for securing the other end of said second-mentioned clamping member to a conduit-engaging member adjacent said one member.

I JOSEPH BANNEYER. 

